Kansas big man Joel Embiid, who tops most mock drafts at this point, is going to miss some time with injuries to his knee and back.
The 7-footer has been dealing with a sprained knee and back trouble. He only played 18 minutes in an 85-82 overtime loss at rival Kansas State on Monday night.
Self said afterward Embiid is “going to need some time off,” but he wouldn’t say whether the big man would miss Saturday’s game against TCU.
Embiid tweaked the back this weekend
KU center Joel Embiid tweaked his back in the closing moments. “He came down funny on the other end when he got fouled. That’s why I was going to sub for him. He’s fine,” KU coach Bill Self said.
Noted Embiid: “It’s all right. It’s OK. I just landed (funny). It’s fine.”
Embiid had 11 points and 12 boards with three blocks in 17 foul-plagued minutes.
As we try to figure out who will go where in June’s draft, things like lingering and nagging injuries could affect a player’s draft stock. If these are simply tweaks and strains, then it’s no big deal. But big men with back issues aren’t received well on draft night (see: Sullinger, Jared). If this becomes a recurring problem, then it has the potential to change the entire face of the draft.
We’re not at that point yet, but this is just something to watch.
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